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Book

Truly

Call Number

  • 921 R531 (CEN)

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Edition

First edition.

Publication Information

New York, NY : HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, [2025]

Physical Description

xxvii, 467 pages, 24 unnumbered pages of plates (some color) : illustrations (some color), portraits (some color) ; 24 cm.

Summary

As a storyteller second to none, Lionel Richie is ready to tell it all. In this intimate, deeply candid memoir, Lionel revisits hilarious and harrowing events to inspire all who doubt themselves or feel their dreams don't matter. Lionel chronicles lessons learned during his unlikely story of remarkable success--his dramatic transformation from painfully shy, "tragically" late bloomer to world-class entertainer and composer of love songs that have played as the soundtrack of our lives. Funny, warm, and riveting, Lionel recalls his childhood in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he grew up on its university campus during the heyday of the Civil Rights movement, raucous adventures as a member of The Commodores, coming-of-age in late 1960s Harlem, culture shock playing gigs on the French Riviera, the big break of being signed to Motown, his meteoric solo career that included an Olympics performance witnessed by two billion around the globe, all the way through to writing and recording "We Are the World" and his current multi-generational fame as a judge on American Idol. Even with its turbulence, loss, and near-calamity, Lionel's journey takes us on a thrill ride and delivers a memoir for the ages--reminding us of the power of love to elevate our own lives and our world.

Contents

  • Author's note
  • Zoom
  • Origin story (1949-1970). Tuskegee ; Escape artist ; Saxophone holder ; 1968 ; Smalls paradise ; On the road
  • Liftoff (1970-1982). Jackson 5 ; What are you gonna do? ; Motown University ; Easy ; Flying high ; Endless love ; Sail on
  • Flying solo (1982-1999). Truly ; Happy people ; All night long ; We are the world ; Out of body ; Blue period ; Wandering stranger
  • Reinvention (2000-present). Citizen of the world ; Coming home ; The gardener
  • Acknowledgments
  • Credits.

Subjects